General News of Tuesday, 11 September 2001

Source: --

United Nations' official refuses treatment in Ghana

Ms. Joanne Oliva, a United Nations (UN) official in Ghana, who was involved in an accident near the police headquarters last Friday, and suffered a pelvic fracture, has refused to be treated in Ghana.

Sources at the Police Hospital, on Saturday told the Ghana News Agency that Ms. Oliva demanded to be taken abroad for treatment after she had refused to be treated there or the 37 Military Hospital.

Ms. Oliva who was in the country with other UN officials to recruit Ghanaian security personnel for peace keeping duties in Kosovo and East Timor, had injuries on the mouth and teeth, the source said.

The accident occurred when the UN team, was taking Ghanaian police personnel through a driving drill exercise, one of the selection programmes, behind the police headquarters.

The source said Ms. Oliva and a Ghanaian policewoman were on a Nissan pick-up belonging to the Police, conducting the test when the vehicle skidded off the road and run into a nearby tree.

The policewoman, who also sustained some injuries, was treated and discharged at the police hospital.

Ms. Oliva is said to be at the guest house of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), waiting to be flown to the United States (US). The Cantonments Police confirmed the incident when contacted them.